Hibiscus plant named `Calypso Wind`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named `Calypso Wind`, characterized by its dark green leaves; upright and outwardly spreading, uniform and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for container production; floriferousness with numerous and large dark orange-colored flowers with red to dark red throats; long peduncles; good resistance to flower bud abscission; and excellent postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Calypso Wind.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new Hibiscus cultivars having uniform and compact plant habitsappropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering,numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color, resistanceto flower bud abscission, and good postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor in Alva,Fla., of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Tangerine (disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,166) as the female, or seed, parent with theHibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Brilliant Red (not patented) as themale, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Calypso Wind was discovered andselected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla., on Sep. 24,1994.

Compared to plants of the female parent, the Hibiscus cultivarTangerine, plants of the new Hibiscus have leaves that are not lobed andlarger flowers that are darker in flower color. Compared to plants ofthe male parent, the Hibiscus cultivar Brilliant Red, plants of the newHibiscus are more uniform in plant habit and more freely branching. Inaddition, flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are smaller, but havebetter substance and are slightly more orange in color compared toflowers of plants of the cultivar Brilliant Red.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Alva, Fla., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

The cultivar Calypso Wind has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of `Calypso Wind`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Calypso Wind` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Dark green leaves.

2. Upright and outwardly spreading, uniform and symmetrical plant habitthat is appropriate for container production.

3. Very freely flowering, numerous and large dark orange-colored flowerswith red to dark red throats.

4. Long peduncles.

5. Good resistance to flower bud abscission.

6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof typical plant of `Calypso Wind`.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flower of `Calypso Wind`. Flower and foliage colors in thephotographs may appear different from the actual colors due to lightreflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Alva, Fla., and Keller, Tex., in 28-cm containers during thesummer and early autumn with day temperatures ranging from 16 to 35° C.and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 24° C. In the description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Calypso Wind.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.--Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Tangerine,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,166.

Male or pollen parent.--Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Brilliant Red,not patented.

Propagation:

Type.--By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 10 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 28 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Rooting habit.--Moderately vigorous, thick and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.--Perennial, evergreen, upright andoutwardly spreading, inverted triangle, uniform and symmetrical planthabit. Moderate vigor.

Branching habit.--Very freely branching, usually about seven lateralbranches develop after removal of terminal apex.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.--About 38 cm.

Plant diameter, area of spread.--About 55 cm.

Lateral branch description.--Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.Texture: Immature, smooth; woody with age.

Color.--Immature: Close to 183A with green areas. Mature: Grayish greento brown.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Alternate, single.

Length.--About 9.5 cm.

Width.--About 8 cm.

Shape.--Cordate/ovate.

Apex.--Acute.

Base.--Cordate.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Glabrous, glossy/shiny on both surface, leathery.

Color--Young foliage, upper surface: Brighter and greener than 146A.Young foliage, lower surface: Close to 146A. Mature foliage, uppersurface: 147A. Mature foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B.

Petiole.--Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture: Smooth orwith very fine pubescence on upper surface. Color: Close to 166A.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.--Usually spring and summer or during periodsof warm weather.

Flower arrangement.--Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf axils.Very freely flowering with typically at least five flower buds and/oropen flowers per terminal apex. Flowers flat and face upright oroutward.

Flower appearance.--Large star-shaped single. Intense darkorange-colored petals with red to dark red throat. Flowers are open forabout one day before closing. Flowers self-cleaning.

Flower diameter.--About 14 cm.

Flower bud (just before showing color).--Rate of opening: About one daydepending on temperatures. Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.Shape: Columnar, oblong.

Petals.--Texture: Crepe, satiny. Arrangement: Corolla consists of fivepetals that overlap. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex. Margin: Entire,but slightly ruffled. Length: About 7 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Color:Upper surface, when opening: 42A. Lower surface, when opening: 42B.Upper surface, fully opened: 33A; lighter where petals overlap; veinsslightly darker than 33A. Lower surface, fully opened: Mostly 33A, pinktowards base. Yellowish at right edges of petals. Throat: Red to darkred, 46A/45A/53A.

Sepals.--Appearance: Six sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx. Shape:Linear. Texture: Smooth. Color, outer surface: Greener than 144A.

Peduncles.--Length: About 6.25 cm, long. Diameter: About 3 mm at apex.Angle: Upright to outward arching with weight of flower. Strength:Strong, flexible. Color: 144A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous. Stamenlength: About 5 mm. Anther shape: Globular. Anther size: About 1 mm.Amount of pollen: Quite abundant. Pollen color: 21A. Gynoecium: Pistillength: About 7.5 cm. Style color: Apex: 51B. Base: 46A to 47A. Stigmanumber: Five. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma diameter: About 2.5 mm. Stigmacolor: 46A. Ovary color: Light green, 154A.

Disease resistance: No known Hibiscus diseases observed to date onplants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: If cross-pollinated, seed production may be observed.Usually one to twenty seeds per capsule.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named `CalypsoWind`, as illustrated and described.